thomson



(NqModelJ v L. THOMSON. SHBAYTHJINGI FOR SHIPS BOT-TOMS.

No. 272,352; Patented Feb. 13,1883;

IN'VENTORJ WITNESSES N. PETERS. Wauhmxlon. 0.6.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN L. THOMSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SHEATHING FOR SHIPS BOTTOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,352, dated February13, 1883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN LUMSDE'N THOMSON, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, and residing at Fenchurch Street, in the city of London,England, have invented certain improvements in the means for protectin gships or vessels or other submerged or partially-submerged surfaces, androofs, walls, and other like surfaces, (for which I have obtainedpatents in Great Britain, No. 3,579, dated August 17, 1881, and No. 413,dated January 27, 1882,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in certain improvements in protective plates,which are chieflyintended for application to wooden or iron ships andsubmerged surfaces, but more especially the outer surfaces of ironvessels, to prevent corrosion from fouling or deterioration. Theprotective plates are applica'ble, however, to walls and roofs, and alsoto the inner surfaces of ships or vessels as a securityagainstthe inthinasphalt.

fluence of bilge-water, drainage, leakage, or moisture from certaindescriptions of cargo.

The main feature of my invention consists" in covering the surface to beprotected with vitreous plates of copper, zinc, yellow-metal, or othersimilar metal, and interposing between such plates and the surface to beprotected certain materials, as hereinafter set forth, which, whenapplied to iron vessels, will have the effect of' preventing galvanicaction between the covering-plates and the iron vessel.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective viewillustrating my invention, and Fig. 2 a sectional perspective view..

In carrying out. myinvention I coat or vitrify the inner sides of theprotective plates 0 with silica or glass, and then apply thereto sheetsB, of canvas or other textile fabric, paper, or

The material selected is cut into sheets of the requisite shape and sizeand immersed in or otherwise thoroughly impreg mated with a solution ofprepared india-rubber, gutta-percha, pitch, tar, asphalt, ozocerite, (orwhat is termed Jews pitch,) many other glutinous substance or mixture orcombination of such substances. To attach these plates to Applicationfiled December "7, 1882. (N0 model.) Patented in England August 17,1881, No 3,579, and January 27, 1882, N0. 413.

the bulls of vessels or other surfaces, A, the

ets, or other fastenings; but I prefer to at V tach the plates to thesurface to be protected through the medium of an adhesive solutionsimilar to that used for impregnating the interposed material, as abovedescribed.

If desired, thin vitrified iron plates may also be interposed betweenthe outer protectingplates and the hull of the ship. v

In applying my invention to the protection of walls, roofs, and thelike, as shown at A, Fig. 2, the surface to be protected is covered withan enameled or vitrified plate or plates, 0, of iron or tin or othermetal. These plates are preferably enameled or coated with vitreter casethey are to be covered on the side to v be attached to the roof or othersurface with suitable cement, glue, or other adhesive substance. Inaddition to this cement or equivalent adhesive material, or in placethereof, I may employ nails, screws, or like fastenings, D, in whichcase the holes therefor are preferably made large enough to allow forcontraction and expansion, and underneath the heads of the screws orotherfastenings I prefer to place rubber or felt washers. Cloth, paper,or other material, 13, saturated with prepared india-rubber,gutta-percha, tar, asphalt, or ozocerite, either separately or combined,is interposed between the outside metal plates and the roof or othersurface to be protected.

The plates are preferably formed with abevel or turn-down edge toprevent corrosion.

My improved protective plates may be applied to the covering of movablepartitions, walls, compartments of ships, or divisions on the stages oftheaters, or for similar purposes, as a protection from fire; and, ifdesired, the plates maybe arranged on rollers traveling in suitablegrooves, so as to be removable when required.

Where a number of protective plates are used the joints should be filledin with cement,

glue, or other adhesive and protective mateto this specification in thepresence of two sub- 10 rials of a like character. scribing Witnesses.

I claim as my invention- The combination of a ships bull or othersurface with a protective plate of enameled 0r vitrified metal and anintermediate layer of fibrous material saturated with a glutinoussubstance, substantially as described.

In testimony wbereot'I have signed my name BEN. L. THOMSON.

Witnesses A. MASON,

85 Gracechm'ch St, E. 0. (bus. J AS. JONES,

47 Lincolns Inn Fields, London.

